With its comfy couches and low lighting, The Perk, a new coffee shop at 1157-1 E. Marion St., Shelby, looks like any other java house.

But more than coffee and smoothies are served here.

Walk toward the back and the difference becomes apparent. First, there's a big room filled with toys and baby items. Then, step through another door and the chairs are arranged in rows facing toward a podium. This is where Global Ministries church meets on Sundays and Wednesdays, and Pastor Joe Greene delivers a message from the Bible. Even the church space looks unusual, because there are recliners placed among the straight chairs.

Greene and his wife, Angela, started the church five years ago with a goal to some day open a coffee shop. The church moved into the current location in February, meeting in the space while church members helped with the renovations.

"This is a vision God gave me," Greene said, "to make a comfortable setting to share the gospel."

Patrons of the shop don't have to be afraid that Greene will preach to them. An electrical contractor, Greene began preaching nine years ago. The couple has been married 28 years, and they have two daughters, Krista Beaver and Cassidy Greene.

"We are not Bible thumpers," he said. "You can come in and never hear the gospel unless you want to. People watch you. The way you live your life is a prime example of how to spread the gospel. If you have a question, I will answer it."

Losing sleep over the perfect cup of coffee

Greene received his associate's degree from Fruitland Baptist Institute and his master's from Believer's Institute for Biblical Studies. But none of that prepared him for opening the coffee shop.

"We did an extensive amount of research and we have gotten good at it," he said. "For two weeks we didn't sleep."

Greene, his family and coffee shop manager, Shanna Hoyle, tasted sample after sample and tinkered with the espresso machine to get the perfect crema, he said. Crema, formed by the extraction of the coffee bean, should have a smooth taste.

"We decided if we were going to do a coffee shop to honor God we wanted it to be the very best, because of who we are working for," Greene said.

Putting people to work

Everyone who works in the not-for-profit coffee shop is also a church member, and this is another goal of the church.

"We can create jobs and use the coffee shop to help us fund the ministry," Greene said. "This is about giving back to the community and being a missionary at home."

Page 2 of 2 - For example, money from coffee shop sales paid the church's power bill this month. Greene is bi-vocational and co-owner of Greene-Beaver Electric Inc. with his daughter, Krista. Their business rents office space from the church, and he also hires church members when possible.

"The goal is to relieve the church (financially) so that we can do more ministry," Greene said. "There are a lot of hurting people in these neighborhoods and I am going after them. We are intentionally focused on Cleveland County. The vision is to touch Shelby."

Non-denominational and contemporary

Global Ministries is a non-denominational church started with funding from the N.C. Baptist State Convention. For the first five years, the church met at Shelby Industrial Park. Because the church received help from the baptists to get started, they contribute to state missions and the North American Mission Board, which funds Southern Baptist missionaries.

The services are contemporary, with Krista serving as the worship leader.

As part of its ministry, the church reached out to local Alcoholics Anonymous groups. A fire in August damaged the Serenity Club where the groups usually meet. The church will provide a meeting place and free coffee until the club building is repaired.

"We want to be a loving church built on relationship not religion," Greene said. "The atmosphere here is spirit-filled. People love each other. The Jesus in me loves the Jesus in you."

Want to go?

The Perk Coffee Shop, 1157-1 E. Marion St., Shelby , is open from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday through Saturday and closed on Sundays. WiFi is available and a study room with a printer and paper will be added soon. A drive-through window is also planned. The phone number is 704-487-8266.

Global Ministries Church meets on Sundays at 10 a.m. for coffee and fellowship and the service starts at 11 a.m. Wednesday night Bible study is held at 6 p.m.

A Grand Opening celebration for the coffee shop and church will be at 2 p.m. Sept. 28 with music by Damacus Road, games and other activities. Free hot dogs will be served.